Evaluation of the results of the model for preventing and controlling fall armyworm in corn

On the morning of May 16, the provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection held a field conference to evaluate the results of the scientific project "Research and improvement of technical measures to prevent and control fall armyworms that harm corn suitable for ecological conditions in Ninh Binh province".

Delegates visited a demonstration model applying measures to prevent fall armyworms from damaging corn in the field of Khuong Binh Cooperative, Yen Phong Commune, Yen Mo District.

Attending the event were leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of the province, Department of Agriculture and Environment of Yen Mo district; and many farmers of Yen Phong commune.

Fall armyworm is an invasive alien pest in Vietnam. In the spring of 2019, fall armyworm appeared and caused severe damage in corn growing areas in the province. This is a type of worm that is highly destructive, reproduces a lot, and has a long time to mature and lay eggs. Corn fields often overlap, so there is a ready food source for the worms, making prevention difficult.

Currently, most farmers in the province only apply chemical spraying measures, do not determine the correct time for spraying, so the prevention efficiency is low, increasing production costs, making pests resistant to pesticides and affecting the ecological environment.

Faced with the above situation, in 2024, the Provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection deployed the scientific project "Research and improvement of technical measures to prevent and control fall armyworms that harm corn suitable for ecological conditions in Ninh Binh province".

In the Spring and Winter crops of 2024, the Project Management Board has implemented a pilot model of fall armyworm prevention and control measures in Yen Mo and Gia Vien districts. In the Spring crop of 2025, a demonstration model was built to apply measures including placing Pheromone traps combined with the use of chemical pesticides to spray fall armyworm on an area of ​​3 hectares of sweet corn at Khuong Binh Cooperative, Yen Phong Commune, Yen Mo District.

The results of the demonstration model show that, in terms of economic efficiency, the profit after investment in the demonstration field is 237,500 VND/sao higher than the control field according to farmers' practices. In terms of environmental efficiency, the demonstration field applies the method of placing Pheromone traps to attract and kill adult fall armyworms, capturing male adults and limiting female adults from laying eggs, reducing the need for spraying pesticides twice compared to the field according to farmers' practices, helping to protect human health and the ecological environment.

The results of the demonstration model are of great significance in contributing to the continued research and improvement of technical measures to prevent and control fall armyworms that harm corn in accordance with ecological conditions in Ninh Binh province. Thereby, limiting pests and diseases, increasing productivity for people and protecting the ecological environment, towards sustainable agricultural development.

News and photos: Minh Hai

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/danh-gia-ket-qua-mo-hinh-phong-chong-sau-keo-mua-thu-hai-169668.htm